It may have only been for one shift in the third period but I sure can’t remember the last time Jarome was told to sit on the pine! The Calgary Flames once again blew a early lead and lost to the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 to end their five game home stand with three straight losses.

Last night the D core of the Flames played very well, as did Miikka Kiprusoff who bounced back from a tough night against the Capitals, but once again up front the top line of Iginla-Stajan-Tanguay failed to show up. That might not be entirely fair to Matt Stajan who had his best shift of the game once Brent Sutter put Iginla on the fourth line in the third period.

The problem for the Flames is that in almost every game I can say that the second through fourth lines had a decent outing but the first line just doesn’t get it done, and I can only attribute it back to Jarome Iginla. It doesn’t matter who is playing with #12 they seem insistent on trying to pass him the puck in any situation even if it isn’t the proper play.

But last night I hope was rock bottom for Jarome. He set up Mark Giordano’s 4 on 3 power play goal early to give the Flames the lead then absolutely nothing! There was no skating or extra effort at all and lazy plays defensively or getting to the bench for a line change costed the Flames twice. To follow that up he took an absolutely bone headed cross checking penalty while the Flames were on a late power play in the second period to try and start a fight with Brad Stuart of the Wings.

Calgary heads out for a four game road trip starting tomorrow in Minnesota and something needs to change in regards to the top line for the Flames. Iginla has been awful and Tanguay hasn’t been much better. the bottom line is .500 does not get you into the post season!